AMHERST – Amherst will raise the Rainbow Flag on July 17 in honour of members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer or questioning community.

There ceremony begins at noon in Victoria Square and is being hosted by the Town of Amherst, the SOAR Community Health Board and the Cumberland Health Authority’s cultural diversity social inclusion committee.

It’s the fifth year Amherst has raised the flag for the LGBTQ community.

“The rainbow flag is an international symbol for the LGBTQ community and signifies inclusion, support and safe spaces,” cultural diversity and social inclusion committee chairwoman Dawn Ripley. “Raising the rainbow flag symbolizes freedom and hope and reminds us all that in many countries around the world, citizens do not have the freedom or basic human rights to be who they are or to live without fear of punishment or death. Flying the rainbow flag is definitely a celebration of freedom.”

Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend the event.

Participating in the ceremony will be gay rights activists Gerard Veldhoven and Order of Canada recipient Eldon Hay of Sackville, N.B.

Velhoven made headlines a decade ago when he became one half of the first legally married gay couple in Nova Scotia. His partner, Norman Carter, passed away several years ago.